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Facewash or Soap? Let’s see how facial cleansing is done the right way

One of the first things we learned about face care was never to apply soap and to use only face wash. In a nutshell, every person who ever imparted this advice had this to say: “It is harsh and leaves your skin dry”.

In This Article:

Soap v/s face wash

How to choose your face wash?

At the moment, this short explanation was enough to make us seriously rethink our choice of face cleanser. Thus, came to be the first face wash in our lives.

However, the multitude of offerings from the skincare industry has become a thing of keen interest among people of varying levels of skincare knowledge – the self-certified skincare curator, the beginner and those who just seek a mere assortment of skincare products that get the job done.

From formulas to ingredient lists, we want to know about everything we apply to our skin. So, if you’re someone who’s just beginning to find their reins in the skincare world, first thing you’d want to learn about is – “face wash or soap, which is good for face?”

Soap v/s face wash

Here’s the breakdown using the ph scale as reference:
The ph scale goes from 0-14.
  • 0-6 is acidic (the lower side of the scale)
  • 7 is neutral which is the ph level of water
  • And 8-14 is alkaline (the higher side of the scale)
Now, here are the ideal ph levels of the following:
  • Your skin’s ideal ph level is between 4.7 – 5.75
  • A face wash or facial bar’s ideal ph level is 4.5 -7
  • A soap’s ph level goes up to 9-10
Facewash or Soap

What do we glean from this? That soap, in comparison to face wash, has a high ph level which is too harsh for the skin. While body skin may be able to handle this, the skin on your face is a lot more delicate and thin.

Cleansing your face with a soap can be overly stripping of the natural fats and oils already present on your face. These natural oils and fats are what make for the natural moisture barrier on your face. Since soap’s too alkaline, it dries out the skin which compromises the moisture barrier, causing irritation and ultimately, breakouts.

That’s why you should choose a face wash. It’s a product specially formulated to cleanse your face and give it the nourishment it needs. So, “face wash or soap, which is good for face?” – you now know the answer!

How to choose your face wash?

Now that we’ve found out who wins soap v/s face wash battle, let’s learn about face washes!

There are so many kinds of face washes catering to different skin types and skin concerns, formulated with different ingredients and boasting of various formulas. How do you choose yours?

    • Oily skin – When your face is naturally greasier than the rest of the skin types, dust, dirt and pollution tend to stick easily to the face, clogging pores, causing acne and blackheads. So, if you have oily skin, choose a face wash that’s slightly more foamy like the Simple Kind To Skin Refreshing Facial Wash that’s 100% soap-free. The foam ensures your skin is thoroughly clean.

    • Dry skin – When you have dry skin, you have to be careful with which face wash you go for. Foaming face washes can be good, but it can be too drying which you don’t need. In this case, you would want to choose a face wash that is creamier and SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) free like the Simple Kind To Skin Moisturising Facial Wash. This component can sometimes contribute to over cleansing, stripping your face of oils and sebum of which dry skin has very little

  • Sensitive skin – With this skin type, it’s always best to go for something that has no fragrance and is made with SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfates). Unlike SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), SLES is a milder and better derivative of SLS. This component makes sure your face gets a good cleanse while being gentle and non-stripping.
Facewash or Soap

Face washes do’s & don’ts

Do:
  • Choose a face wash that suits your skin type.
  • Consulting a dermatologist can always be good option to learn more about what face wash suits your face.
  • Wash your face only once or twice a day depending on the weather and how active you are.
Don’t:
  • Wash your face more than twice. This can be overly stripping and affect the natural moisture barrier.
  • Continue using a face wash if you see any signs of irritation or flare-ups.
  • Wash your face only once or twice a day depending on the weather and how active you are.

So, go on, say no to soap and yes to face wash!

Team Simple
Written by Team Simple on Apr 25, 2022
Nourishing your skin with the best of Simple Skincare products. Our skincare line speaks of clean beauty, excluding more than 2000+ harsh chemicals. Start your simplified skincare routine now!
Tags: Cleanser
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